Men's Ice Hockey

North Dakota outlasts Ferris State in 2OT to head to 20th Frozen Four

CINCINNATI -- Connor Gaardner scored off a rebound 1: 28 into the second overtime Saturday night, sending North Dakota to a 2-1 victory against Ferris State and its 20th trip to the Frozen Four.

The seven-time national champions got an at-large berth and the fourth seed in the Midwest Regional when rival Wisconsin knocked off Ohio State for the Big Ten title. North Dakota (25-13-3) then knocked off top-seeded Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament semifinals.

Sophomore goalie Zane Gothbert had a career-high 44 saves, and Gaardner scored soon into the second overtime for North Dakota's first trip to the Frozen Four since 2011.

Ferris State (29-11-3) had several chances at the end of the third period and overtime, getting off nearly twice as many shots on goal.

Ferris State opened the scoring in the second period on Cory Kane's goal, and North Dakota tied it in the period on Stephane Pattyn's power-play score.